Cutting your own fringe, too many layers, chewing gum and greasy hair – help with your hair disasters.
Cutting your own fringe
It's quite tempting to have a little snip at your fringe in between haircuts rather than traipsing all the way down to the hairdresser. Johnnie agrees that trimming fringes is fine as long as you don't cut straight across or cut it when it's dry. "When your hair is wet it stretches out, so when your fringe dries, it springs up and will be shorter than you expected." He adds: "Be aware that if you have a cowslick, a widow's peak or an awkward hairline you could be risking it."
Pointing your scissors upwards into your hair and using the tip to snip along your fringe takes out some weight and prevents a lop-sided fringe. If you have made a mess, change your parting and wear it to one side, or play around with Kirby grips and clip it aside. Within a month it will have grown out enough to be wearable again.
Too many layers
Everyone knows the feeling when your stylist holds up the mirror and you want to cry but smile and nod politely before shooting into the nearest McDonalds toilet to flatten the mess on your head.
Too many layers can lift your hair up and give it volume that you can't handle, and one way to reduce it is to straighten down your hair. Stylists often blow-dry hot air into the root making it look much bigger than it normally would. Strangely, adding more layers underneath your hair can reduce the chunky look, as the top layers will fall flatter if there is less bulk underneath them. For dire situations, hair extensions will lengthen short sections, but only if they are in the middle or bottom sections of your hair. Short layers on the top of your hair simply need to be grown out patiently.
Chewing gum in your hair
Even if you're not six years old and clueless about the dangers of Wrigleys and Hubba Bubba, it's amazing how often chewing gum can get in your hair: leaning on the back of a cinema chair, toddlers helpfully sticking it in your hair and picking it up from scarves and coats left about in pubs and bars. Fear not, you don't need to take a pair of scissors to your hair but rub in some plain peanut butter instead. Cover the lump fully and gently rub at it, easing it out slowly. If it refuses to come out, freeze it first between two ice cubes and it will chip away with more ease.
Greasy hair
Using lots of products, hot weather, washing your hair too frequently and generally running your hands through your hair can leave it really greasy. However, there is nothing wrong with washing your hair everyday if that's what suits you. Johnnie explains that chopping and changing your shampoos is fine – your hair does get used to types and adapts itself to each one. If you wash your hair everyday with a moisturising shampoo, he advises using a clarifying shampoo on the third day, or if you use a shampoo for greasy hair, use a neutral shampoo every three days.
Words: Monisha Rajesh
